The Rita Liu
Cartographical Collection
（1584-1837）
Selected from
the Anton Library for Chinese Studies
The Rita Liu Cartographical Collection
About the Collection
The Rita Liu Cartographical Collection exemplifies the curiosity inherent in all individuals. Over hundreds of years, people from diverse backgrounds embarked on journeys to China, seeking and transmitting knowledge about places previously unseen by those who shared their culture, beliefs, and ideas. Beyond their travels, these individuals crafted maps, offering novel—and often groundbreaking—perspectives of the world. Instead of hoarding their newfound knowledge, these adventurers chose to engage and share the enchantment they experienced. We hope that all readers of this booklet are inspired to do the same.
Catalogue
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Chinae, Olim Sinarum Regionis (1584) 01
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Martino Martini and Joan Blaeu Maps 02
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La Chine Royaume 03
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Jean Baptiste d’Anville and Jean Baptiste Du Halde Maps 04
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New and Accurate Map of China Drawn from Surveys Made by Jesuit Missionaries, by Order of the Emperor (1747) 05
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Empire des Mongols, Conrad Malte (1837) 06
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A Sketch of journey from She-Hol in Tartary by Land to Pekin and from Thence by Water to Hang-Tchoo-Foo in China 07
The Rita Liu Cartographical Collection
Collection introduction
01
Chinae, Olim Sinarum Regionis (1584)
This map boasts an impressive array of ‘firsts’: it marks the inaugural instance of a printed European map specifically dedicated to China, the first depiction of China in an organized atlas, the earliest portrayal of the Great Wall of China, the pioneering representation of wind wagons, the first map to name the Philippine Archipelago, and the earliest Western printed display of Chinese characters on the verso. Notable and distinctive features include its Western orientation, ornate decorations, vibrant colors, and references to historical and apocryphal points of interest for the 16th-century atlas reader.
Luiz Jorge de Barbuda, SJ (1564? -1613?) remains a mysterious figure in Portuguese cartography, with much about him shrouded in uncertainty. In 1582, he received a commission from Philip II of Spain to create navigation charts and world maps. The inclusion of his map in Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum was accompanied by a detailed description of China and the Chinese language, drawn from Bernardino de Escalante’s Discurso de la navegacion que los Portugueses hacen a los Reinos y Provincias de Oriente (1577), the first book published in Spain about China.
Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598), a Dutch cartographer, is credited as the pioneer of the modern atlas and the founder of the Netherlandish school of cartography. The initial edition of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum was printed in 1570, featuring 53 maps, a number that swiftly expanded with subsequent editions. In 1575, Ortelius was appointed the Royal Cartographer to Philip II of Spain, and his works remained the authoritative standard for over 75 years.
02
Martino Martini and Joan Blaeu Maps
Who They Were
Martino Martini, SJ (1614-1661), a Jesuit missionary hailing from Trento (now Italy), played a crucial role in advancing the Jesuit mission in Hangzhou, China. Serving as the Jesuit Superior in Hangzhou, he gained substantial access to surveys and valuable information, which he later brought back to Europe.
Joan Blaeu (1596-1673), the son of the cartographer Willem Janszoon Blaeu, assumed control of the family business following his father’s passing. He held the position of hydrographer for the Dutch East India Trading Company and gained renown for the meticulous detail, exceptional quality, and aesthetic beauty of his maps.
Imperii Sinarum Nova Descriptio (1655)
The Imperii Sinarum Nova Descriptio stands out as the most precise and authoritative map of China in 17th-century Europe, compiled by Joan Blaeu and Martino Martini, SJ. This map holds the distinction of being the inaugural Western atlas specifically dedicated to China, Korea, and Japan. Building upon the knowledge accumulated after the publication of Luis Jorge de Barbuda, SJ, and Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in 1584, it provides a more accurate depiction of distant landmasses, such as recognizing the peninsular status of Korea and delineating the islands of Japan. Notably, it also marks the first Western map to illustrate the curvature of China’s coast, challenging previous cartography that depicted it as a relatively straight line.
Chekiang Provincia, Imperii Sinarum (1655)
The Nova Descriptio provides a comprehensive overview of China and its adjacent regions. Other maps within the Imperii Sinarum series in the Novus Atlas Sinensis focus on specific provinces, such as Chekiang (Zhejiang) and Iunnan (Yunnan). The Chekiang Provincia map depicts various day-to-day activities, including harvesting and games, while mines are marked with small flags indicating their contents. Notably, the cartouche features an illustration of a man engaging in the process of ‘silk reeling,’ believed to be the earliest European depiction of silk production in China.
Yunnan Provincia, Imperii Sinarum (1655)
Martino Martini, SJ, and Joan Blaeu’s map of Yunnan Province is the first printed European map of the Yunnan region, encompassing the territory between Tibet and Guangxi Province, Sichuan Province and Laos, Burma, and Vietnam. The map is adorned with depictions of indigenous flora and fauna, including tropical birds and elephants, along with the inclusion of four children positioned near the cartouche.
03
La Chine Royaume
This map, published in 1658, is believed to be derived from a Chinese map that Matteo Ricci, SJ, copied in 1590 and subsequently brought to Rome by Michele Ruggieri, SJ. The original Chinese map is Luo Hongxian’s four-volume Ming Atlas, Guang Yu Tu (1579). Notably, the Korean peninsula is depicted as a peninsula, albeit with a distinctive curvature, which was unconventional for the period. Additionally, the northern tip of the Philippines is included. In the lower right-hand corner, Sanson’s explanation is adorned with Pheme, the personification deity of fame and renown. It also makes references to the prior work of Michael Boym, SJ, and Martino Martini, SJ.
Nicholas Sanson (1600-1667) was a French cartographer, often considered to be the father of French cartography for his influence and output. These maps were researched and often accompanied by explanatory notes on the recto. Sanson’s contributions marked a pivotal shift of cartographic excellence from the Netherlands to France. He held the esteemed position of Official Royal Cartographer and served as a tutor to Louis XIII.
The note in the corner reads “In 1590 while in Rome Matheo Neroni drew a magnificent, most unusual, and very large map according to Fr. Michele Ruggieri’s explanations of drawings found in four books printed in China. It is currently kept in the study of His Royal Highness Monseigneur the Duke of Orleans. My map is only an abridged version of Neroni’s work. Because of a lack of space, I was able to include only cities of the first and second ranks. While engraving it, I looked at Fr. Martino Martini La Chine and glanced at Fr. Boym’s still unfinished work, which he claims will be the best of all maps. Martini’s opus contains sixteen maps, one for each province, but they sometimes are less detailed than the one drawn by Neroni. When I attempted to reconcile all these maps I was confronted with great differences in names and numbers of prefectures (fu) and townships (si), not to mention the smaller places. All this leads me to believe that these maps are based on indigenous drawings by different Chinese authors and that it will be difficult to say who among them is the best…”